scholarly journals Decolonizing Health in Canada: A Manitoba First Nation Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Eni ◽  
Wanda Phillips Beck ◽  
Grace Kyoon Achan ◽  
Josée G. Lavoie ◽  
Kathi Avery Kinew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Shared Vision ◽  
First Nation ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Based Research ◽  
Indigenous Wisdom

Abstract Background This paper focuses on a longitudinal research program in Manitoba, Canada, by the Innovation Supporting Transformation in Community-Based Research Project (iPHIT) to learn from First Nations across the province that have developed effective community-based primary healthcare models. The research is relevant and timely as First Nations across the country, and Indigenous populations globally, work towards improvements in population health and health equity via critical analysis and restructuring of health services. The purpose of the paper is to deepen an understanding of decolonization as it is defined within the communities, as a central aspect of health restructuring. Methods The study is a qualitative, grounded theory analysis, which is a constructivist approach to social research that allows for generation of theory in praxis, through interactions and conversations between researchers and research participants. Findings are based on 183 in-depth interviews and eight focus group discussions with participants from 8 Manitoba First Nation communities. The study was designed to understand strengths, limitations and priorities of primary healthcare strategies and frameworks of the communities. The iPHIT team was an active collaborative partnership between the First Nation communities, First Nation Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba, and the University of Manitoba. The First Nation partners led in all aspects of the research, from development to implementation, data collection, analyses, and dissemination. Respected Elders from the communities also guided in appropriate research and engagement protocols. Results Data was coded and then grouped into 4 interconnecting themes. These are: (1) First Nation control of healthcare, (2) traditional medicine and healing activities, (3) full community participation, and (4) moving out of colonization involves cleaning up and moving beyond the mess that colonization has inflicted. Conclusion Decolonizing health involves a taking back of Indigenous wisdom and traditional activities; connections to the land, resources; intra- and inter-community relationships. Participants emphasized the value of full community engagement with respect to inclusion of different interpretations of and experiences in the world, highlighting creation of a shared vision. The study focused on First Nation community experiences and interests in Manitoba specifically, though the data may be applicable to national and global decolonization efforts.

scholarly journals Our People, Our Health: Envisioning Better Primary Healthcare in Manitoba First Nation Communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Grace Kyoon-Achan ◽  
Wanda Phillips-Beck ◽  
Kathi Avery Kinew ◽  
Josée G. Lavoie ◽  
Stephanie Sinclair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
First Nation ◽  
Critical Conditions ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Based Research

Recognizing the right of self-determination of Indigenous Peoples is essential to improving the state of community-based primary healthcare of First Nations in Canada. Understanding communities’ priorities and local health agendas is critical for primary healthcare transformation. We used a community-based participatory research approach to engage our partners: Nanaandawewiwgamig, the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba, and eight First Nation communities. Community-based research assistants conducted 183 in-depth interviews in their respective First Nations. Key themes that emerged from these interviews include primary prevention focused on health and social determinants; an integrated healthcare system providing access to both Western and First Nations traditional health knowledge; infrastructure improvement; youth engagement; healthcare leadership; investing in community-based human resources; and promoting culturally respectful, responsive, geographically sensitive, and outcomes-oriented care. Policy approaches could implement some local priorities with direct impact on healthcare, while other social determinants will create indirect, albeit critical, conditions for health and healthcare changes over time.

Sustaining health education research programs in Aboriginal communities

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Wisener ◽  
Jennifer Shapka ◽  
Sandra Jarvis-Selinger
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Based Research ◽  
Education Interventions ◽  
Health Education Interventions

Despite evidence supporting the ongoing provision of health education interventions in First Nations communities, there is a paucity of research that specifically addresses how these programs should be designed to ensure sustainability and long-term effects. Using a Community-Based Research approach, a collective case study was completed with three Canadian First Nations communities to address the following research question: What factors are related to sustainable health education programs, and how do they contribute to and/or inhibit program success in an Aboriginal context? Semi-structured interviews and a sharing circle were completed with 19 participants, including members of community leadership, external partners, and program staff and users. Seven factors were identified to either promote or inhibit program sustainability, including: 1) community uptake; 2) environmental factors; 3) stakeholder awareness and support; 4) presence of a champion; 5) availability of funding; 6) fit and flexibility; and 7) capacity and capacity building. Each factor is provided with a working definition, influential moderators, and key evaluation questions. This study is grounded in, and builds on existing research, and can be used by First Nations communities and universities to support effective sustainability planning for community-based health education interventions.

scholarly journals Preventing Obesity in Canada’s Aboriginal Children: Not Just a Matter of Eating Right and Getting Active

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie A Ferris
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Based Research ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Right ◽  
Aboriginal Children ◽  
And Training

Obesity is a growing issue for all children. Many experts say that preventing obesity is largely a matter of eating the right foods and getting enough physical activity. This advice doesn’t recognize the fact that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children face unique barriers to growing up healthy and strong simply because of their identity. This paper discusses how the social determinants of health impact the ability of Aboriginal children to grow up free of obesity. The paper highlights results from a community-based research project conducted amongst Aboriginal parents and service providers in Ontario who wish to prevent obesity amongst their own young children and clients. Research was carried out over two years to help develop a “toolkit” and training program to help service provides increase efforts to prevent obesity amongst First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children from the ages of 2 to 6 in Ontario.

scholarly journals Developing a preschool and parent program in a rural Cambodian village : the perspectives of parents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Ganhao
Keyword(s):  
Educational Programs ◽  
Shared Vision ◽  
Parent Support ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Complex Environment ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Based Research ◽  
Government Organization ◽  
The Village ◽  
Parent Program

Educational programs are more likely to be successful when practitioners and parents have a shared vision of goals and expectations for the program, as parents are said to be part of a complex environment that influence the goals, concerns, and expectations they have for their children and their children's educational experiences. This study of parents' perspectives of educational programs was conducted in a rural Cambodian village with the support of a local non-government organization (NGO); an organization that is in the midst of developing preschool and parent programs for the children and families who live in the village. Interviews were conducted with parents to understand parents' goals for their children's future, and their goals for the preschool and parent programs. The study was conducted by utilizing Bronfenbrenner's ecological framework and was informed by the principles of Community Based Research. The study found that parents value education and hope that their children's educational attainment will lead to a favourable career path, that parents want access to preschool and parent programs, and are willing to support the programs through donations of time, money, or food. Parent support through donations indicates parents' willingness to engage with projects, an important aspect of sustainable development.

scholarly journals The development of a community-based public health response to an outbreak of post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis in a First Nations community

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 339-346
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Jacob ◽  
Natalie Bocking ◽  
Ruben Hummelen ◽  
Jenna Poirier ◽  
Len Kelly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Mandatory Reporting ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis ◽  
Nations Community

Background: Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) is a rare immune-mediated condition that typically occurs in children as a result of group A streptococcus (GAS) infection. PSGN is not considered a disease of public health significance, or reportable, in Canada. Higher incidence of PSGN has been described among Indigenous people in Canada. No national or provincial guidance exists to define or manage PSGN outbreaks. Objective: To describe an outbreak of seven paediatric cases of PSGN in a remote First Nations community in northwestern Ontario and the development of a community-wide public health response. Methods: Following a literature review, an intervention was developed involving screening of all children in the community for facial or peripheral edema or skin sores, and treatment with antibiotics if noted. Case, contact and outbreak definitions were also developed. The purpose of the response was to break the chain of transmission of a possible nephritogenic strain of streptococcus circulating in the community. Relevant demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected on all cases. Outcome: Seven paediatric cases of PSGN presented to the community nursing station between September 25 and November 29, 2017. Community-wide screening for skin sores was completed for 95% of the community’s children, including 17 household contacts, and as a result, the last of the cases was identified. Nineteen adult household contacts were also screened. Ten paediatric contacts and two adult contacts with skin sores were treated with one dose of intramuscular penicillin, and six paediatric contacts received oral cephalexin. No further cases were identified following the screening. Conclusion: PSGN continues to occur in Indigenous populations worldwide at rates higher than in the overall population. In the absence of mandatory reporting in Canada, the burden of PSGN remains underappreciated and could undermine upstream and downstream public health interventions. Evidence-based public health guidance is required to manage outbreaks in the Canadian context. The community-based response protocol developed to contain the PSGN outbreak in this First Nations community can serve as a model for the management of future PSGN outbreaks.

scholarly journals Commentary - The Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program: Indigenous Climate Leaders’ Championing Adaptation Efforts

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 127-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Richards ◽  
Jim Frehs ◽  
Erin Myers ◽  
Marilyn Van Bibber
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
First Nation ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Health Canada ◽  
Climate Change And Health ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

The Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program (CCHAP) is a program within the First Nations Inuit Health Branch of Indigenous Services Canada (which was previously under the responsibility of Health Canada). The CCHAP supports Inuit and First Nation communities in mitigating and adapting to the health impacts of climate change. The impacts of climate change on Indigenous health can be observed in multiple areas including, but not limited to, food security, cultural medicines, mental health and landbased practices. This program seeks to address the needs of climate change and health in First Nation and Inuit communities to support resiliency and adaptation to a changing climate both now and in the future through its emphasis on youth and capacity building. The commentary is based on the Program’s eleven years of experience working with and for Indigenous communities and provides an overview of the CCHAP model and the work it has and continues to support. This paper demonstrates three examples of community-based projects to mitigate and adapt to the health impacts of climate change to demonstrate climate change resiliency within Indigenous communities.

scholarly journals Developing a preschool and parent program in a rural Cambodian village : the perspectives of parents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Ganhao
Keyword(s):  
Educational Programs ◽  
Shared Vision ◽  
Parent Support ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Complex Environment ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Based Research ◽  
Government Organization ◽  
The Village ◽  
Parent Program

Educational programs are more likely to be successful when practitioners and parents have a shared vision of goals and expectations for the program, as parents are said to be part of a complex environment that influence the goals, concerns, and expectations they have for their children and their children's educational experiences. This study of parents' perspectives of educational programs was conducted in a rural Cambodian village with the support of a local non-government organization (NGO); an organization that is in the midst of developing preschool and parent programs for the children and families who live in the village. Interviews were conducted with parents to understand parents' goals for their children's future, and their goals for the preschool and parent programs. The study was conducted by utilizing Bronfenbrenner's ecological framework and was informed by the principles of Community Based Research. The study found that parents value education and hope that their children's educational attainment will lead to a favourable career path, that parents want access to preschool and parent programs, and are willing to support the programs through donations of time, money, or food. Parent support through donations indicates parents' willingness to engage with projects, an important aspect of sustainable development.

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